Gangdong-gu's Hidden Angels Warm the Vulnerable This Winter... 'Ddakgyeo' Donation Amount Hits Record High

Gangdong-gu Raises 1.69167 Billion Won from 1,073 Donations for the '2024 Warm Winter Campaign,' Surpassing Goals and Setting a Record High... Warm Hearts for Neighbors in Need, Including Elderly Donors and Anonymous Contributors Leaving Millions... Unique Corporate Participation Ranges from Generous Billion-Won Donations to Running While Picking Up Trash

Kangdong-gu (Mayor Lee Soo-hee) announced on the 5th that the ‘2024 Hope Ondol Warm Winter Campaign,’ conducted over three months since November last year, achieved a record-high fundraising amount of 1,691,670,000 KRW.

The Hope Ondol Warm Winter Campaign (hereafter ‘Daggyeo’) is a project to raise funds to help neighbors in need who are in welfare blind spots. Every year, the Seoul Community Chest of Korea and Kangdong-gu jointly carry out fundraising activities through donations and contributions.

In particular, this year’s Daggyeo fundraising exceeded the target amount of 1.5 billion KRW by a wide margin, with 1,073 donations coming from various sectors including companies, organizations, hobby clubs, and individual donors.

Behind this achievement were the warm hearts of residents and businesspeople sincerely wishing to help neighbors in need and participate in spreading a culture of giving in the local community.

In December last year, the Gildong Community Center in Kangdong-gu received 5 million KRW along with a handwritten letter from an anonymous donor saying, “I am grateful and relieved to be able to share again this year.” This anonymous donor has been leaving 5 million KRW and a letter every year since 2020 and then disappearing, which has already become well-known in the community.

An elderly resident in Cheonho-dong, who was receiving basic living subsidies, said, “I want to give even a little help to neighbors going through difficult times,” and donated 1 million KRW that they had carefully saved.

Residents who have set aside living expenses to help neighbors in need are not limited to these cases. A resident in Gangil-dong said, “I want to repay the help I received from the community,” and donated 365,000 KRW saved by cutting back 1,000 KRW a day.

Donations from residents’ hobby clubs were also notable. This year, Soulrim Mountaineering Club, Together Mountaineering Club, and Hangang Sports Club contributed donations and participated in the Daggyeo campaign.

Additionally, an employee of Kangdong-gu Office donated 4 million KRW to support the education of vulnerable children entering middle school this year.

Local businesspeople contributed with generous donations and unique giving. Daseong Construction donated 100 million KRW, and CEO Han Myung-seop of KDW Wedding and his spouse Kim Young-ae donated a total of 200 million KRW to the district and the Community Chest.

Dodram Pig Farming Cooperative (Chairman Park Kwang-wook) held two plogging events?picking up trash while running?in the Godeokcheon area with about 80 executives and employees. They calculated the accumulated steps from plogging and donated Dodram products worth 12 million KRW to free meal facilities for the elderly.

Also, Sunjin Logistics (CEO Jung Yoo-jin), an international logistics company, held an online charity bazaar at the end of the year with about 200 employees, raising proceeds and donations to contribute 5 million KRW, practicing resource circulation and neighborly sharing together.

The district plans to send thank-you letters to all donors who participated in this year’s Daggyeo campaign and present awards to outstanding donors to express respect and gratitude.

Food items such as rice and kimchi, and daily necessities collected as contributions have been delivered to vulnerable groups, and the accumulated funds will be used to support households in welfare crises that urgently need linkage to welfare services such as livelihood, medical care, housing, and education expenses.

Mayor Lee Soo-hee of Kangdong-gu said, “Despite the difficult situation with the ongoing economic downturn, we were able to achieve good results thanks to many people coming together with warm hearts. We will strive to ensure that the meaning of giving and the sincerity of donors are fully conveyed to the local community.”